The thoughts of Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc ahead of tonight's match have a similar theme to those prior to their visit to Stamford Bridge on the opening night of Group A.

Then ahead of a 4-0 defeat for the French side, Blanc said: 'If we had looked at all of their [Chelsea's] strengths we would not have got to bed because there are too many,' before suggesting his side would play more defensively than their renowned open style in their domestic league.

Since that first day set-back, Bordeaux lost at home to Roma but went a part of the way to repairing the damage with back-to-back wins over CFR Cluj. That has put them on the front foot going into the fifth group stage match reckons Blanc and looking ahead to it, he said:

'I don't need to say anything to motivate my players because it's such a big game they're already up for it. If I tell them to study the Chelsea players' strengths, it'll just give them a headache.

'Chelsea probably thought they'd have their qualification secured by the time they arrived in Bordeaux,' the former France international defender added.

'They didn't expect to lose in Rome and now they need a result to avoid a nervy final game. The stakes are high for both teams but we may have a psychological advantage.'

That belief does not prevent Blanc indicating his side will join the list of teams who crowd their own half of the pitch when Felipe Scolari's selected 11 are in possession and moving forward.

'We saw the way Chelsea struggled to break down CFR Cluj. They had plenty of the ball but the game ended 0-0 because Cluj defended well and denied Chelsea room to play in. We'll have to do the same. The main thing is that we have got to be ready for the fight.'

Bordeaux have ended uncertainty over who will be in goal tonight by announcing that captain Ulrich Ramé remains unfit so 25-year-old Matthieu Valverde will continue to deputise.

'Chelsea didn't have a great result against Newcastle and we expect them to come into this match with a different approach,' Blanc believes.

'Chelsea will be full of ambition and we have to match it.'

There will be full live commentary of tonight's match, where a win would guarantee Chelsea a place in the knockout stages, on Chelsea Plus.